Multiple air compartment adjustment device

ABSTRACT

A multiple air compartment adjustment device includes at least two air compartments, an adjustment unit, at least one positioning member. The air compartments are arranged in a tiered form. The air compartments include, in an interior thereof, an elastic body. The adjustment unit includes at least two valve assemblies, which include a connection valve, a self-charging valve, and an operation section. The positioning member is movably disposed on the adjustment unit and one of the positioning member includes an activation section. The air compartments are automatically operated to adjust for high, low, soft, stiff, and shape according to a magnitude of a pressing force and after the pressing force acting disappears, inflation can be automatically carried out for shape restoration to prevent the elastic body from elastic fatigue and deformation.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an adjustment device, and moreparticularly to a multiple air compartment adjustment device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Heretofore, pneumatic control structures of air compartment do not allowautomatic adjustment of high, low, softness, stiffness, and shape, andare not easy to operate and does not allow for precise and fineadjustment of a height and a shape of an air compartment.

Thus, the present inventor has previously proposed an automaticpneumatic control structure of air compartment that enables automaticadjustment of high, low, softness, stiffness, and shape of an aircompartment, yet the air compartment thereof is of a single-layeredstructure, making the effect of height supporting (softness) andshapeability (contour pliancy) not perfect.

Further, reference is directed to Taiwan Utility Model M453454, which,although allowing adjustment and setting of height and saturation ofeach air compartment, has two air compartments that are arranged on thesame plane and are not in a tiered manner, and does not fully disclosevalve related structures, so that the effect of height supporting(softness) and shapeability (contour pliancy) is similarly not perfect,making it not effectively suit to the needs of different users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a multiple aircompartment adjustment device that provides a better effect of heightsupporting (more degrees of softness) and shapeability (better contourpliancy) and enhanced adaptability for better suiting to the needs ofdifferent users.

To achieve the above objective, the present invention is applicable topillows, cushions and the likes and comprises at least two aircompartments, an adjustment unit, at least one positioning member, theair compartments being arranged in a tiered form, the air compartmentsincluding, in an interior thereof, an elastic body, the air compartmentsbeing connected to an air tube; the adjustment unit comprising at leasttwo valve assemblies, the valve assemblies being each connected to theair tube of the air compartments of each tier, the valve assembliescomprising a connection valve, a self-charging valve, and an operationsection, the connection valve and the self-charging valve being incommunication with each other, the connection valve being connected tothe air tube, the operation section being operable to control airflowing or not flowing between inside and outside of the connectionvalve; the positioning member being disposed, in a movable manner, inthe adjustment unit, one of the positioning member including anactivation section to activate, when the positioning member is moved toa first position, the connection valve of one of the valve assembliesand to activate, when moved to a second position, the connection valveof the other one of the valve assemblies.

By using the positioning member and the multiple valve assemblies tocontrol air flowing or not flowing between the inside and outside of theair compartments of the multiple tiers, in addition to allowing the aircompartments to automatically adjust for high, low, soft, stiff, andshape according to a magnitude of a pressing force (such as a head, aneck, or hips) in order to reduce a reacting force of the aircompartments, making a supported part (such as the head, the neck, orthe hips) naturally and comfortably supported to provide an effect ofheight supporting (more degrees of softness) and shapeability (contourpliancy) of better adaptability to be more effectively suitable todifferent users.

And, after the pressing force acting on the air compartments disappears,inflation can be automatically carried out for shape restoration toprevent the elastic body from elastic fatigue and deformation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an adjustment unit according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the adjustment unit according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing a valve assembly according to thepresent invention.

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are schematic views, in cross-sectional forms, showingan activation section of the present invention changing from astationary condition to a moving condition.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view showing the adjustment unit of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of use of thepresent invention, where a force is applied to cause a positioningmember to move to a first position.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of use of thepresent invention, where a force is applied to cause a positioningmember to move to a second position.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the adjustment unit according tothe present invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the adjustment unit in acondition, where a force is applied to cause the positioning member tomove to the first position.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the adjustment unit in acondition, where a force is applied to cause the positioning member tomove to the second position.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a secondembodiment according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1-8, the present invention is applicable to pillows,cushions and the likes and comprises two air compartments 10, anadjustment unit 20, and a positioning member 30. Details are providedbelow.

The air compartments 10 are arranged in a tiered form. The aircompartments 10 include, in an interior thereof, an elastic body 11, andthe air compartments 10 are connected to an air tube 12.

The adjustment unit 20 comprises two valve assemblies 40. The valveassemblies 40 are each connected to the air tube 12 of the aircompartments of each tier. The valve assemblies 40 comprise a connectionvalve 41, a self-charging valve 42, and an operation section 43. Theconnection valve 41 and the self-charging valve 42 are in communicationwith each other. The connection valve 41 is connected to the air tube12. The operation section 43 is operable to control air flowing or notflowing between inside and outside of the connection valve 41.

The positioning member 30 is disposed, in a movable manner, in theadjustment unit 20. The positioning member 30 includes an activationsection 31 to activate, when the positioning member 30 is moved to afirst position, the connection valve 41 of one of the valve assemblies40 and to activate, when moved to a second position, the connectionvalve 41 of the other one of the valve assemblies 40.

By using the positioning member 30 and the multiple valve assemblies tocontrol air flowing or not flowing between the inside and outside of theair compartments 10 of the multiple tiers, in addition to allowing theair compartments 10 to automatically adjust for high, low, soft, stiff,and shape according to a magnitude of a pressing force (such as a head,a neck, or hips) in order to reduce a reacting force of the aircompartments 10, making a supported part (such as the head, the neck, orthe hips) naturally and comfortably supported to provide an effect ofheight supporting (more degrees of softness) and shapeability (contourpliancy) of better adaptability to be more effectively suitable todifferent users; and after the pressing force acting on the aircompartments 10 disappears, inflation can be automatically carried outfor shape restoration to prevent the elastic body 11 from elasticfatigue and deformation.

In a structure of an embodiment, the adjustment unit 20 is in the formof a case. The adjustment unit 20 has a through hole 21. The positioningmember 30 includes an activation section 31 at one side thereof. Theactivation section 31 is arranged in an interior of the adjustment unit20 and the activation section 31 is coupled, at one side thereof, to apushing section 32. The pushing section 32 has a part forming a postthat is received, in a movable manner, through the through hole 21, andthe pushing section 32 has another part that is positioned on a surfaceof the adjustment unit 20, so that the pushing section 32 is movablealong the through hole 21 and the positioning member 30 is preventedfrom separating from the adjustment unit 20.

The adjustment unit 20 is provided, on the surface thereof, withmultiple markings 23, and the pushing section 32 includes a projectionfor pointing the markings 23 at different locations during a movement ofthe positioning member 30 in order to provide an indication of positionsof stages for adjustment positioning.

The adjustment unit 20 is provided, on an inside wall thereof, withmultiple retention notches 22 arranged in a paired and opposing form.The activation section 31 is provided, on two side edges thereof, withtwo opposite retention flanges 311. The retention flanges 311 areretainable in the retention notches 22. The adjustment unit 20 isselected from plastic materials so that the retention flanges 311 arereadily moved to dislodge from the retention notches 22 for beingretained in another ones of retention notches 22, thereby providing amultiple-stage-switchable adjustment positioning effect.

In a structure of an embodiment, the activation section 31 includes aU-shaped portion, and the U-shaped portion has two branches eachprovided with a first pressing section 312 and a second pressing section313 projecting from an undersurface thereof for pressing down a side rimof the operation section 43 of the valve assemblies 40.

The first pressing section 312 and the second pressing section 313 havea slope section for spreading resistance caused by pressing of the siderim of the operation section 43 of the valve assemblies 40.

In a structure of an embodiment, the connection valve 41 is formed witha through hole 411, and the connection valve 41 is provided, in aninterior thereof, with an operation bar 412. The operation bar 412 isreceived, in a movable manner, through the through hole 411 to couple tothe operation section 43. The operation bar 412 is provided, on a lowerend, with a step portion 413. The step portion 413 has a lower side thatis in engagement with and elastically biased by a first elastic body 414so that the step portion 413 is caused to close the through hole 411.

In a structure of an embodiment, the self-charging valve 42 is formedwith an opening 421, and the self-charging valve 42 is provided, in aninterior thereof, with an airtight sealing member 422. The airtightsealing member 422 is selected from elastic materials. The airtightsealing member 422 has an upper side that is in engagement with andelastically biased by a second elastic body 423 so that the airtightsealing member 422 is caused to close the opening 421.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 11, when the positioning member 30 has not beenmoved, the valve assemblies 40 are not in communication with theexterior and air inside the air compartments 10 is not in communicationwith the exterior and is only allowed to flow in the interior.

Under such a condition, a maximum height is made and maximum stiffnessis demonstrated.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 12, when a force is applied to cause thepositioning member 30 to move to a first position, the first pressingsections 312 of the activation section 31 press down the operationsection 43 of one of the valve assemblies 40 to open the through hole411 and thus activating the connection valve 41 of one of the valveassemblies 40 to set the valve assembly 40 in communication with theexterior, and air inside the air compartment 10 of an upper tier is incommunication with the exterior.

Under such a condition, a moderate height is made and moderate stiffnessis demonstrated.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 13, when a force is applied to cause thepositioning member 30 to move to a second position, the second pressingsections 313 of the activation section 31 press down the operationsection 43 of the other one of the valve assemblies 40, thus activatingthe connection valve 41 of the other one of the valve assemblies 40 toset the valve assembly in communication with the exterior, and airinside the air compartment 10 of a lower tier is also in communicationwith the exterior. Under this condition, air inside the air compartment10 of the upper tier is also in communication with the exterior.

Under such a condition, a minimum height is made and minimum stiffnessis demonstrated.

Referring to FIG. 8, when a pressing force acting on the aircompartments 10 disappears (such as the head, the neck, or the hipsmoving away from the air compartments 10), whether or not the connectionvalves 41 are activated and set in communication with the exterior, theelastic bodies 11 elastically restore to expand up the air compartments10 (not illustrated), and pressure of the air compartments 10 sucksbackward the airtight sealing member 422 of the self-charging valve 42to thereby open the opening 421, allowing exterior air to flow throughthe opening 421, the self-charging valve 42, the connection valve 41,and the air tube 12 to reach into the air compartments 10, so that theair compartments 10 are automatically charged with air to restore theoriginal shape and thus helping prevent the elastic bodies 11 fromelastic fatigue and deformation.

It is noted here that in the present invention, the number of the aircompartment 10 and the valve assembly 40 can be two or more, and thenumber of the raised pressing section of the activation section 31 canbe two or more, and the number of stages to which switching made throughmovement can be two or more, so that the activation section 31 canachieve an effect of multiple-stage-switchable adjustment positioning,to enhance an effect of adaptability of the air compartments 10 forheight supporting (demonstrating more degrees of softness) andshapeability (contour pliancy).

Referring to FIG. 14, the present invention may comprise three aircompartments 10, two positioning members 30, and three valve assemblies40, wherein the additional air compartment 10 is located at the highesttier and the additional positioning member 30 also includes anactivation section 31, the activation section 31 including only onepressing section for activating the connection valve 41 of the thirdvalve assembly 40 through movement. As such, adaptability of the aircompartments 10 for height supporting (demonstrating more degrees ofsoftness) and shapeability (contour pliancy) can be further enhanced.

I claim:
 1. A multiple air compartment adjustment device, comprising: atleast two air compartments, which are arranged in a tiered form, the aircompartments comprising an elastic body, the air compartments beingconnected with an air tube; an adjustment unit, which comprises at leasttwo valve assemblies, the valve assemblies being each connected to theair tubes of the air compartments of each tier, the valve assembliescomprising a connection valve, a self-charging valve, and an operationsection, the connection valve being in communication with theself-charging valve, the connection valve being connected with the airtube, the operation section being operable to control air flowing or notflowing between inside and outside of the connection valve; and at leastone positioning member, which is movably arranged on the adjustmentunit, wherein one of the positioning member comprises an activationsection to activate, when the positioning member is moved to a firstposition, the connection valve of one of the valve assemblies and toactivate, when moved to a second position, the connection valve of theother one of the valve assemblies.
 2. The multiple air compartmentadjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment unit isin the form of a case, the adjustment unit having a through hole, thepositioning member comprising an activation section at one side thereof,the activation section being arranged in an interior of the adjustmentunit, the activation section being coupled, at one side thereof, to apushing section, the pushing section having a part forming a post thatis received, in a movable manner, through the through hole, the pushingsection having another part positioned on a surface of the adjustmentunit, so that the pushing section is movable along the through hole ofthe adjustment unit and the positioning member is prevented fromseparating from the adjustment unit.
 3. The multiple air compartmentadjustment device according to claim 2, wherein the adjustment unit isprovided, on the surface thereof, with multiple markings, and thepushing section comprises a projection for pointing the markings atdifferent locations during a movement of the positioning member in orderto provide an indication of positions of stages for adjustmentpositioning.
 4. The multiple air compartment adjustment device accordingto claim 1, wherein the adjustment unit is provided, on an inside wallthereof, with multiple retention notches arranged in a paired andopposing form, the activation section being provided, on two side edgesthereof, with two opposite retention flanges, the retention flangesbeing retainable in the retention notches, the adjustment unit beingselected from plastic materials so that the retention flanges aremovable to dislodge from the retention notches for being retained inanother ones of the retention notches, thereby providing amultiple-stage-switchable adjustment positioning effect.
 5. The multipleair compartment adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein in anembodiment of the activation section, the activation section comprises aU-shaped portion, the U-shaped portion having two branches each providedwith a first pressing section and a second pressing section projectingfrom an undersurface thereof for pressing down a side rim of theoperation section of the valve assemblies.
 6. The multiple aircompartment adjustment device according to claim 5, wherein the firstpressing section and the second pressing section have a slope sectionfor spreading resistance caused by pressing of the side rim of theoperation section of the valve assemblies.
 7. The multiple aircompartment adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein theconnection valve is formed with a through hole, the connection valvebeing provided, in an interior thereof, with an operation bar, theoperation bar being received, in a movable manner, through the throughhole of the connection valve to couple to the operation section, theoperation bar being provided, on a lower end, with a step portion, thestep portion having a lower side in engagement with and biased by afirst elastic body to have the step portion close the through hole. 8.The multiple air compartment adjustment device according to claim 1,wherein the self-charging valve is formed with an opening, theself-charging valve being provided, in an interior thereof, with anairtight sealing member, the airtight sealing member being selected fromelastic materials, the airtight sealing member having an upper side inengagement with and biased by a second elastic body to have the airtightsealing member close the opening.
 9. The multiple air compartmentadjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the other one of thepositioning member comprises an activation section, which activates theconnection valve of the other one of the valve assemblies when the otherone of the positioning member is moved.